The video game industry cares more about making money than creating a safe online gaming environment for kids

In June 2024, there was a concerning incident involving a child on VRChat: A 13-year-old boy in New York threatened to harm himself twice in one day. Also in June, another 13-year-old boy in Florida revealed his personal phone number to a user he had never met in real life while using Discord. And in November 2023, a 13-year-old girl in Florida was repeatedly asked for a private photo by a stranger over the course of a week while on Discord and Roblox, and she eventually sent the request.

These scenarios reflect threats that play out in thousands of homes every day, where children are subjected to personal information exposure, sexual harassment and bullying through online games. Then why was there such an indifference to the protection of children in these virtual playgrounds?

The answer is twofold: lack of public awareness and the industry’s focus on results. Major technology companies such as Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony and game developers such as Riot Games, Valve, Epic and EA Claiming that it’s impractical to monitor every player interaction and instead rely on players to self-report threats. For companies like Microsoft Reported net income of $21.9 billion (up 20%) For the quarter ending March 31, 2024, this is clearly not about affordability; rather it is a lack of taking responsibility. The safety of our children requires more than kicking the can down the road. It requires action.

And meanwhile More than 30 state legislators currently have bills pending To curb threats targeting minors on social media (and platforms like TikTok face scrutiny for their impact on young minds), the gaming industry has largely escaped similar condemnation.

The industry continues to grow rapidly, with tens of millions of game consoles sold every year and a growing gaming audience. It is expected to increase by another 400 million players by 2029, reaching over 3 billion users worldwide.. The growth in the industry underscores the serious and urgent need to balance the benefits of gaming with stringent security measures.

Tech companies also often cite privacy concerns as a reason why they don’t share security information with parents, but they’re more than happy to use user data when it benefits them. For example, Microsoft’s Copilot tool Records game sessions for player development purposes.

Video games are not just a source of entertainment; It is also a place where children can develop reasoning skills, solve problems, and connect with like-minded peers. But as the gaming industry does the bare minimum to protect young gamers, children are increasingly facing mental health issues and other dangers from gaming. So how can we change this?

Game platforms and technology giants should protect it. Industry leaders and game manufacturers need to intensify their efforts to monitor and mitigate threats. Transparency is critical. While cooperation with law enforcement is a positive step, these companies rarely disclose the nature of these interactions, leaving parents unaware of the dangers their children face.

Legal regulation is very important. The regulatory landscape needs to evolve to reflect the new realities of digital gaming. Just as there is significant legal pressure against the dangers of social media, similar measures need to extend to the gaming industry. It’s not just about collaboration; It is about transparent and effective mandatory security mechanisms.

We need to encourage industry-wide collaboration for greater transparency. Right now, tech platforms are doing their own homework when it comes to online monitoring, safety, and security. It’s time to pull back the curtain and improve industry interoperability to keep children around the world safe online. These efforts should be complemented by increased transparency and help parents understand risks and manage them effectively.

Gaming has become a daily and rewarding hobby for millions of children; However, the industry overall has not implemented systems and standards to secure these virtual communities.

The stakes are very high. Leading gaming platforms need to be transformed into environments where security is integral, not an afterthought. It’s time for the video game industry to be held to the same standards as social media. The government’s failure to hold game manufacturers and developers accountable for their failure to protect children online is alarming and perpetuates a dangerous environment where young users are vulnerable to exploitation and harm.

The only way to provide a safer digital playground for our children is through a collective effort across the industry, legally and at home.

Ron Curbs is the Founder and CEO of Kidas, a technology company developing AI-powered text and voice communication tools to protect online users from toxicity, cyberbullying, and other predatory behavior.